Finding a JobFinding a Jobin Tough Timesin Tough Times

Presented by Prof. Tim Presented by Prof. Tim JohnsonJohnson

Wentworth Institute of Wentworth Institute of TechnologyTechnology

Who are you?Who are you?

• A recent college graduate.A recent college graduate.• A member of a minority group.A member of a minority group.• A laid off technology worker.A laid off technology worker.

Regardless…Regardless… You’re looking for a job--a good job.You’re looking for a job--a good job. One where you can show off your One where you can show off your

talents & bring home a little bacon.talents & bring home a little bacon.

What have you been What have you been through?through?

• A seemingly endless round of interviews.A seemingly endless round of interviews.• An diminishing list of possibilities.An diminishing list of possibilities.• While your background isn’t While your background isn’t

outstanding, neither is it without merit.outstanding, neither is it without merit.• You’re proud of where you been and You’re proud of where you been and

hopeful for the future.hopeful for the future.

What does the future look What does the future look like?like?

• IN A WORDIN A WORD

BLEAKBLEAK

What Happened?What Happened?

For the recent college graduate:For the recent college graduate:• Coming out of an academic Coming out of an academic

situation into the business world situation into the business world requires you to adjust. requires you to adjust.

• Problems can’t be solved within an Problems can’t be solved within an hour.hour.

• Your first “real job” is to nail down Your first “real job” is to nail down that first job.that first job.

Why ME?Why ME?

For the minority or the technology worker:For the minority or the technology worker:• It’s not your fault.It’s not your fault.• Economic conditions force managers to Economic conditions force managers to

make decisions.make decisions.• They’d rather keep everyone and be They’d rather keep everyone and be

thinking about hiring more personnel.thinking about hiring more personnel.• They spent time and money training They spent time and money training

you, an investment that you, an investment that youyou now get to now get to spend somewhere else.spend somewhere else.

What do you have to do to What do you have to do to crack this nut?crack this nut?

Six steps to a paycheck:Six steps to a paycheck:1.1. Re-define yourselfRe-define yourself

2.2. Re-define your goalsRe-define your goals

3.3. Re-examine limitationsRe-examine limitations

4.4. Create opportunitiesCreate opportunities

5.5. Never say noNever say no

6.6. FocusFocus

1. Re-define yourself1. Re-define yourself

• Getting into college was a big deal.Getting into college was a big deal.• But the day you walked off the But the day you walked off the

stage with the college diploma was stage with the college diploma was a triumph.a triumph.

• You persevered over many You persevered over many obstacles. obstacles.

• Let’s take a look at that person..Let’s take a look at that person..

Inventory TimeInventory Time

• What have you been doing since What have you been doing since school?school?

• What have you learned, new?What have you learned, new?• What learning have you applied?What learning have you applied?• Have you been working out at the Have you been working out at the

gym?gym?• How have you been pushing How have you been pushing

yourself?yourself?

Self KnowledgeSelf Knowledge

• On an interview, the employer is first On an interview, the employer is first concerned that you can do the job (or concerned that you can do the job (or are capable of learning the job).are capable of learning the job).

• Your degree and your experience (the labs and Your degree and your experience (the labs and COOP) answer that question.COOP) answer that question.

• Next, the employer wants to know about Next, the employer wants to know about you.you.– Only you can tell him about yourself.Only you can tell him about yourself.– To do that, you have to know yourself.To do that, you have to know yourself.

Who are you, Part 2Who are you, Part 2

• What are your values?What are your values? How many times have you been to the How many times have you been to the

movies?movies? How many times have you been to How many times have you been to

church?church? If you are living at home, are you helping If you are living at home, are you helping

out?out? What books have you read?What books have you read?

• You know yourself better than You know yourself better than anybody.anybody.

2. Redefine your Goals2. Redefine your Goals

• What are your goals, now?What are your goals, now? Getting into college was the 1Getting into college was the 1stst goal. goal. Graduating from college was the 2Graduating from college was the 2ndnd.. What’s next?What’s next?

• Have you set a new goal yet?Have you set a new goal yet?• Start Dreaming. Real goals start out as Start Dreaming. Real goals start out as

wishes. wishes.

The Next GoalThe Next Goal

• Athletes, when they achieve a goal often Athletes, when they achieve a goal often don’t know what to do next in their life.don’t know what to do next in their life. They are unprepared, they are in a let-down.They are unprepared, they are in a let-down. They haven’t started training for their next They haven’t started training for their next

goal.goal.

• You have this unique opportunity to You have this unique opportunity to decide what your next move will be. decide what your next move will be.

You think life just You think life just happens…happens…

• The difference between a wish and a goal The difference between a wish and a goal are plans.are plans.

• You took notes in class, have you made You took notes in class, have you made notes on your life? notes on your life? You need to write this stuff down.You need to write this stuff down. Post ‘em where you can see ‘em.Post ‘em where you can see ‘em.

• Are you comfortable with your goal and Are you comfortable with your goal and these steps?these steps? By the way, is everything on your TO-DO list By the way, is everything on your TO-DO list

pointed at that goal or are errands and favors pointed at that goal or are errands and favors getting in the way? getting in the way?

3. Re-examine Limitations3. Re-examine Limitations

• In setting your goal, you bump up In setting your goal, you bump up against limitations.against limitations.

• To set a real goal, one that will get you To set a real goal, one that will get you up every morning brimming with energy up every morning brimming with energy and filled with excitement, you ignore and filled with excitement, you ignore limitations. limitations.

• Your plan deals with the limitations.Your plan deals with the limitations.• All you have to do is execute the plan. All you have to do is execute the plan.

No Limits LivingNo Limits Living

• Suppose you want to be a nuclear Suppose you want to be a nuclear physicist but you don’t have a Ph.d physicist but you don’t have a Ph.d in Physics.in Physics.

• What do you have to do to get one?What do you have to do to get one?• Put those steps into the plan.Put those steps into the plan.• They are just hoops you have to They are just hoops you have to

jump through.jump through.

And the Bible says…And the Bible says…

• Jesus himself use the hoop allegory to Jesus himself use the hoop allegory to compare how difficult it would be for a compare how difficult it would be for a rich man to get into heaven. He said it rich man to get into heaven. He said it would be easier for a camel to pass would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.through the eye of a needle.

• Keep this in mind when you set your Keep this in mind when you set your goal.goal.

• A successful and happy man has riches A successful and happy man has riches beyond money.beyond money.

4.Creating Opportunities4.Creating Opportunities

Four PointsFour Points• Keep your friendsKeep your friends• Make new friendsMake new friends• Go where the action isGo where the action is• Go with the flowGo with the flow

A short story about A short story about keeping friendskeeping friends

When the professor was a young man in high When the professor was a young man in high school and wanted to learn to swim, he had to school and wanted to learn to swim, he had to go to the pool for the lessons. A year later, go to the pool for the lessons. A year later, even though he could barely swim, he went out even though he could barely swim, he went out for the water polo team. He eventually was a for the water polo team. He eventually was a goalie on a championship team because he goalie on a championship team because he could tread water. He didn’t need to swim that could tread water. He didn’t need to swim that well, just tread water. He was part of a team well, just tread water. He was part of a team and he still corresponds regularly with some of and he still corresponds regularly with some of the team members. We still keep cheering the team members. We still keep cheering each other on.each other on.

A longer story about A longer story about making new friendsmaking new friends

When the professor was a bit older, he wanted to be a When the professor was a bit older, he wanted to be a Radio Technician but he needed an FCC license. When Radio Technician but he needed an FCC license. When he started to study for the exam, he realized that no one he started to study for the exam, he realized that no one he knew talked about radio frequencies or could answer he knew talked about radio frequencies or could answer his questions. So he visited the radio department at his his questions. So he visited the radio department at his company and met some of the radio technicians on the company and met some of the radio technicians on the job. He visited them often at lunch while he studied and job. He visited them often at lunch while he studied and they answered most his questions. They even liked his they answered most his questions. They even liked his being around because he gave them the opportunity to being around because he gave them the opportunity to explain what they were doing. He eventually wound up explain what they were doing. He eventually wound up working with them. They were all ham radio operators. working with them. They were all ham radio operators. The professor joined a ham radio club and made lifetime The professor joined a ham radio club and made lifetime friends there. One of these friends is a professional friends there. One of these friends is a professional engineer who is recommending the professor for his PE engineer who is recommending the professor for his PE license.license.

Where are the jobs?Where are the jobs?

• In order to take advantage of an opportunity, In order to take advantage of an opportunity, you have to be involved.you have to be involved.

• Join the IEEE, a Professional Eng. Society, or a Join the IEEE, a Professional Eng. Society, or a ham radio club. ham radio club.

• Visit job fairs and trade shows. Visit job fairs and trade shows. • Read the trade magazines as they have serious Read the trade magazines as they have serious

employment ads in them.employment ads in them.• Talk to everyone. Find out how they got their Talk to everyone. Find out how they got their

job.job.

Where did the jobs go?Where did the jobs go?

• Nobody’s hiring.Nobody’s hiring.• If you don’t change they’ll be passing If you don’t change they’ll be passing

you by wrapped in NAFTA or waving H-you by wrapped in NAFTA or waving H-1B visas.1B visas.

• Ever think of offering your services for a Ever think of offering your services for a fee? Starting your own business? You fee? Starting your own business? You can go back to the same companies and can go back to the same companies and do business. do business.

• Keep this option in mind. Keep this option in mind.

What’s this about going What’s this about going with the flow?with the flow?

• Ever notice when water is flowing Ever notice when water is flowing downhill it gets backed up until it finds a downhill it gets backed up until it finds a way around an obstruction? way around an obstruction?

• Times and needs change. Jobs change. Times and needs change. Jobs change. People change. Right now, employers People change. Right now, employers are trying to hold onto employees to ride are trying to hold onto employees to ride the recession out.the recession out.

• If you can’t get a job in your field, take If you can’t get a job in your field, take the job that’s there.the job that’s there.

If the part’s broke…If the part’s broke…

• A technician would replace it.A technician would replace it.• An engineer has two choices:An engineer has two choices:

Fix the reason the part broke. Fix the reason the part broke. Find a different way to do the same job Find a different way to do the same job

better.better.

• In your case, you can:In your case, you can: Make no changes. Make no changes. Go back to school and improve yourself.Go back to school and improve yourself. You’ve been there, done that; now you’re You’ve been there, done that; now you’re

going to try something different.going to try something different.

5. Never say No5. Never say No

• Part of creating opportunities is Part of creating opportunities is being able to take advantage of being able to take advantage of them. them.

• Serendipity (coincidence) happens Serendipity (coincidence) happens if you are available.if you are available.

• People can’t come in if the door is People can’t come in if the door is closed. closed.

• You can’t “afford” to say no.You can’t “afford” to say no.

Life isn’t PlannedLife isn’t Planned

• Affirmation of life is the gift and the Affirmation of life is the gift and the freedom to say yes.freedom to say yes.

• We can set our goals and make our We can set our goals and make our plans, but life happens.plans, but life happens.

• Enjoying what happens is the best Enjoying what happens is the best way to say yes.way to say yes.

EnjoyEnjoy

• Being prepared to take advantage of life Being prepared to take advantage of life to achieve your goal is a win-win to achieve your goal is a win-win situation.situation. If you don’t achieve the goal, you If you don’t achieve the goal, you

enjoyed your life. enjoyed your life. If you do achieve it, you get the same If you do achieve it, you get the same

enjoyment.enjoyment.

6. Focus6. Focus

• You can take any job and make it into a You can take any job and make it into a success. success.

• Once you get on the job, your training Once you get on the job, your training and skills will win for you the and skills will win for you the opportunity to try something new.opportunity to try something new.

• All great executives start out in the mail All great executives start out in the mail room.room.

• The head of New York Telephone started The head of New York Telephone started as a splicer’s helper.as a splicer’s helper.

Stay FocusedStay Focused

• Anything worth doing take time, Anything worth doing take time, skill, and learning. skill, and learning.

• You’ll always get a feeling of pride You’ll always get a feeling of pride in its accomplishment.in its accomplishment.

• Beware of distractions but give of Beware of distractions but give of your time to family and society.your time to family and society.

• Enjoy.Enjoy.